Combination lamp-protector and color-cap.



' -E. e. APPLETON.

' COMBINATION LAMP PROTECTOR AND COLOR CAP.

APPLICATIION mm JULY I0, 1915.

Patented Mar. 7,1916.

l nvehtor zap/Wm Attorneys .il'riina r EUGENE G. APPLETON, O-F BU 'RLINGTON, IOWA.

coiasznarion LAMP-PROTECTOR AND COLOR-CAP.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE G. APPLE.-

ToN, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Burlington, in the county of Des Moines and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Combination Lamp-Protector and Color-Cap, of which the following is a specification;

The present invention appertains to electric lamp attachments, and aims to provide an attachment applicable to an electric light bulb to serve the dual function of a lamp protector and a color cap, whereby the device will protect the lamp and its coloring from the'elements and stray'objects which are liable to strike the lamp,

.and whereby the device may be of any desired color according to tliecolor of light desired.

The improved caps are adapted'especially for use on electric signsfalthough' they may be used'to advantage for other purposes 'as well. it being the object of the invention to provide caps applicable to the electric light bulbs for both protecting them from injury and to provide various color schemes. r I

The improvement resides in the provision of a cap constructed of transparent celluloid or other suitable composition or' material which is transparent and which possesses the requisite resiliency and flexibility for the purposes, the cap being adaptstruction, which may be readily applied to various electric lamps for the purposes indicated, and which will bethoroughly practical and eflicient in use. With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will beappai ent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the

invention resides in the peculiar 'construc-' tion and formation of the device as hereinafter set forth, it being understood that slight changes in details maybe made, within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the periphery of the socket.

' The invention is illustrated in the ac- COIIIPZLIIYIIIQ. drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of cap applied to the bulb and socket of an electric sign. Fig. 2 illustrates the cap in longitudinal SBCtlOIlaS applied to the lamp. Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on Patented Mar. '7, 1916. Application filed. July 10, 1915. Serial No. 39,142. i

the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an. elevation of another form of the invention app l1ed to an electric lamp. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the captillustrated in Fig. 4 showing the same applied to the lamp. Fig. 6 is an end view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 there is illustrated a lamp socket 1 of an electric sign, which is provided with an annular circumferential groove 2, in which a rubber ring or gasket 3 is fitted so as to project slightly from The electric incandescent lamp or bulb 4 threadedly engages the socket land the socket 1 is supported upon the sign in the usual manner.

In carrying out the invention, there is provided a cap 5 constructed of celluloid or other composition or. material which is transparent, and which, is also flexible and springy. The body portion of the cap 5 is of cylindrical form, .and'one end of the cap 5 is open, as at 6, while the other end is rounded, as at 7. The cap 5 is adapted to be slipped over thelamp or bulb 4: so that the openend 6 .of'the cap fits around the socket 1 andbears against the ring 3 to close the space between the mouth of the cap and the socket 1 for excluding rain and foreign objects from the interior of the cap. The rounded end 7 of the cap is adapted to fit snugly upon the end of the lamp or bulb 4, and if desired, the rounded or closed end 7 of the cap may be provided with a central aperture 8 for accommodating the tip 9 of the lamp or bulb;

In order that the cap 5 will maintain itself in position upon the lamp, the cap is providedbetweenits ends, or adjacent its open end, with an annular series of inwardly projecting longitudinal depressions orj corrugations 10 whose ends terminate "short of the ends of the cap. Those ends of the depressions 10 nearest the open end of the cap are deeper and wider than the other ends, whereby the bottoms 11 of the depressions 10 will be inclined or arranged bulged portion of the bulb, and when the cap is slipped home, the depressed portions 10 will spring inwardlv due to the resiliency of the celluloid or composition from which the cap is formed. In this manner,

the portions 10 will embrace the bulb 4 back of the bulged portion thereof, to firmly hold the cap in place upon the lamp and the lamp socket.

The cap 5 may be of any desired color, and being translucent, will therefore cause thelamp to give ofi the desired color, so that it will be evident that by employing caps of various colors or hues, they may be applied to the lamps of an electric sign for providing the color scheme or arrangement which may be desired, and without the necessity of employing electric lamp bulbs which are colored, and which are more or less expensive. It is also possible with the present devices, to color the electric lamps by damp lacquer, since when the caps are applied, they will protect the lacquer from the elements, and hail and other missiles. Furthermore, if desired, the caps may be colorless in their original state, and may be lacquered upon their inner sides or interior, if this is preferred. At any rate, by the provision of the caps, the lamps or bulbs will be protected from breakage by the striking of hail or other missles thereagainst, since the caps are flexible and springy, to prevent stray objects from readily breaking the bulbs. Furthermore, the caps will exclude rain and sleet from the bulbs which is desirable when the bulbs are lacquered. When it is desired to change the shade of the coloring, the lamp may be dipped in the lamp color or lacquer, or the interior of the cap may be coated with the lamp color or lacquer. The present device is therefore particularly advantageous for.

protecting the bulb, forprotecting the lacquer if it is used, and for permitting various colors of light to be obtained from the .lamp, the cap being cheap and simple in construction, and being readily applied to the lamp to hold its position thereon.

In the variation illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the cap and protector 5 may be con} structed of celluloid or equivalent material, the same as with the first form, and is provided with the open end 6, and with the conical end 7' which may be provided at its apex with an aperture 8 to permit rainand moisture to drain ofi' if the lamp or bulb 4' is hung from its socket. This form of the invention illustrates that the end of the cap may be conical, as at 7 instead of rounded as at 7,.and other slight variations are also possible within the scope of the invention.

The cap 5 is provided with an annular series of longitudinal depressions or corrugations 10 extending from the open end 6' to a point intermediate the ends of the cap, whereby the open end 6 of the cap is contracted slightly and whereby the depressions 10 are adapted to embrace the bulb 4' back of its bulged portion, to hold the cap in place. The bottoms 11 of the depressions 10 are preferably inclined or disposed obliquely, so as to converge toward the open end of the cap, and whereby the depressions 10 will properly bear against the bulb 4' to hold the cap in place. The open end 6 of the cap. 5' is expansible in order that it may be slipped properly onto the bulb 4, and after the cap is slid to position, the open end portion of the cap will contract and embrace the bulb for holding the cap in proper place. The latter form of the invention is adapted for general use, and is not provided with special means for engaging the lamp socket as is the first form of the invention. The two forms of the invention have common characteristics, however, as well as independent features, due to their common and specific details of construction. Each form of the invention comprises but a single or unitary piece which may be readily molded from celluloid or equivalent material, and each form is also provided with a contracted expansible portion adapted to be snapped over the bulb to embrace the bulb behind the bulged portion thereof for holding the cap in place.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp-protecting color cap adapted to he slipped over an-electric light bulb,

composed of transparent springy material, the cap having a contracted expansible portion to snap over the bulged portion of the bulb for holding the cap in place.

2. A lamp-protecting color cap adapted to be slipped over an electric light bulb, composed of transparent springy material, the can having an annular series of longitudinal depressions to snap over the bulged portion of the bulb for holding the cap in place thereon.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE G. APPLETON.

Witnesses:

R. L. WALTERS,

P. FLEMING. 

